Coaches vs. Cancer Tourney Takes Cats to the Garden

The 15th ranked UA men’s basketball team will take on St. John’s University in the 17th annual 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in a nationally televised game on ESPN 2.

Rebecca Ruiz-McGill

Nov. 15, 2011

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Pending Thursday's results, Arizona will play in the consolation round or play for the championship against either Mississippi State or Texas A&M on Nov. 18.

Solomon Hill collected his first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds on Sunday in a win against Ball State.

The University of Arizona men's basketball team will take on St. John's University in the championship rounds of the 2K Sports Classic Nov. 17 in New York City's Madison Square Garden.

Thursday's game is part of the semifinals wherein Texas A&M will take on Mississippi State. Pending Thursday's results, Arizona will face either Mississippi State or Texas A&M on Nov. 18. Should Arizona win, the 2K Sports Classic championship game will take place at 5 p.m. If the Cats lose, the consolation game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

The Coaches vs. Cancer program, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and National Association of Basketball Coaches, exists to leverage the strength and community leadership of the nation's basketball coaches to raise awareness and reduce the risk of cancer while raising funds for the American Cancer Society's fight to save lives from cancer.

St. John's Steve Lavin has recently returned to coach his team after more than a month away recovering from prostate surgery. Thursday's matchup between the 15th ranked UA (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) and St. John's (3-0, 0-0 Big East) will be the first meeting between the two undefeated teams.

Arizona is fresh off of a 73-63 win Nov. 13 over Ball State in which Kevin Parrom's 18 minutes of action rallied the team. He participated in game action for the first time since suffering a gunshot wound to his right leg on Sept. 23 while visiting family in New York City.

Parrom tallied six points, four rebounds and two assists, including a key trey midway through the second half. Leading the way to the victory over Ball State was junior forward Solomon Hill who put forth his best effort of the season Sunday by collecting his first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Arizona heads to the Garden ranked 15th in the current (Nov. 14) Associated Press poll and 16th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll.

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